© 1999 Alcress Communications

On the second Sunday in Advent, we light a candle to remind us of John the Baptist. John was the fore-runner of Jesus and it is quite appropriate that on this day when we remember him and his ministry, that we should share in Baptisms.

Now this isn’t for the obvious reason, that John’s ministry was one of Baptism, but rather that John is a model for us as we act as parents and Godparents to Children. Now I suspect that this sounds a little obscure, but let us see where these thoughts take us.

John was a cousin of Jesus and his birth like that of Jesus was a miracle announced by an angel and to a woman well past her child bearing years. Born about six months before Jesus, John was a child set apart for great things. His ministry, although it would thrust him into the lime-light, would be rather overshadowed by that of Jesus and his task in particular was to prepare the way for Jesus.

Those of you who know the musical Godspell will remember how it begins with the song "Prepare ye the way."

John’s whole purpose was to prepare the world (the Jewish Nation) for the coming of Jesus among them. His Baptism, was that of repentance and symbolic of the washing away of sin through water. This is certainly something that the whole process of Baptism is about. Each of us, from the oldest here to the youngest has been tainted by sin. It is more than just the sins that we commit, but the whole process of being part of a fallen humanity, that prevents us from a relationship with God. I am sinful not because of the sins that I commit, but because I am an inheritor of the rebellion of mankind expressed in the story of Adam and Eve. In fact, I sin because of this nature. So baptism starts with this process of washing away the stain of sin, that I might be free to enter into a right relationship with God.

Now this doesn’t mean that baptism makes me perfect but rather it is the starting point of a new relationship with God. It is the expression of the desire to build a relationship with God and to become the sort of person that is on God’s side. We may all fail to live up to these promises, but the starting point of making them gives us the way back should we fail. We still have the choice each day of our life to live according to these promises or to deny them and to live out our life without any reference to God.

But as Tim Shaw of Demtel says — But wait, there is still more. Our reading closes with the Baptist pointing us to Jesus. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit."

This is why it is so appropriate that we have this reading at a baptism. It is not the work of the baptiser with water that is ultimately important. Like John, the church is not the salvation giver — this is the role of Jesus. All that we do today is not the end, but the beginning. Indeed it is in the promises that Parents and God Parents make and even in the promise of the Congregation, that today is only the beginning of the journey of faith of this child to meet Jesus. The child the meets with Jesus, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit, empowered and equipped for the new life that heaven promises.

There is more to church than just being washed clean. A Christian is not the person who chooses right from wrong, but is the one who is changed by the very presence of the life of the Holy Spirit within. Only the meeting with Jesus can bring this about.

For the Parents, the Godparents, indeed for all of us this is the challenge that every baptism brings. Have I encountered the reality of Jesus in my life? This is not simply about choosing right from wrong. (Being good if you like). It is about entering into a life that is lived in reference to Jesus; not the baby of Bethlehem but the risen and ascended Saviour waiting to return.

And this is why I get excited about baptisms, and why I want each of you to become excited too. We just do not know how Jesus will meet this child, but our prayer of faith is that it will come about and my prayer is that it will be sooner rather than later. As parents and Godparents, you have both the challenge and the joy to participate in this task. You are called by God to walk beside this child and draw her to faith.

There is one thing that is important. Several times you make the promise that you will do these things with God’s help. These are not empty words, or pious words, but important words as they are the clue for how you can do this. God will help you fulfil this task if you are prepared to ask. But you must ask. Perhaps as you take on this task on behalf of Jesus, you might reflect on your own relationship with him as well. Each of you have had the Baptism of water, but have you been baptised in the fire of the Holy Spirit? Often we do have this because we forget to look for it.

Let us allow John the Baptist to point us to Jesus and to prepare the way for us. Let us take all that God has to offer and not be content until we find this.

May each of us know the power of God in our lives and the experience of fullness that faith has to offer.

AMEN.